Police in Hanoi Wednesday arrested a 36-year-old drug addict for allegedly robbing money from different ministries since last year.

According to initial investigations, Vu Huy Bao from the northern province of Nam Dinh broke into the offices of the ministries of construction, transport, investment and planning, education, and justice.

In his latest attack on March 18, Bao, who was released from jail in October 2009, took away about VND127 million (US$11,761) and $1,200 from the office of Hoang The Lien, the minister of justice, police said.

He also told police that he had taken a total of some VND400 million ($19,138) from four other ministries.

Police are now expanding their investigation to see if Bao was also related to several other robberies.

According to the police, security in the offices was rather lax. The ministry of investment was robbed four times last year, and the education ministry has been robbed two times this year, they said.